Improvement in seed-planters



C. RANDALL.

Cotton-Planter.

Patented Nov. 2, 1852.

STATES Uwrrn CHA RLES RANDALL, O

IMPROVEMENT IN Arnim einen.

F PALMYRA, GEORGIA.

SEED-PLANTERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES RANDALL, of Palmyra, in the county ot' Lee and State ot Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Constructing Seed-Drills for Dropping Cotton and 'other Seed; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification.

All contrivances heretofore known or used, as far as I am acquainted, for dropping cotton-seed have proved ineifectual, owing .principally to the lightness and fuzzy surface of this description ofseed, causing them, particularly in damp weather, to adhere, cake together, and obstruct the passage or aperture leading from the hopper, thus rendering the dropping irregular and uncertain.

My invention consists in a novel and peculiar arrangement of drill constructed with particular reference for adapting it to the dropping of cotton-seed; but it can be used with nearly equal advantage for a variety of other seed.

The principal feature of novelty consists in so constructing the carrying wheel that it shall perform the several functions of serving vas a hopper to contain the seed, a plow to open the furrow, and a support for the implement, thus reducing the machine to great simplicity, compactness, and also durability.

The accompanying drawings represent an isoinetrical view and a longitudinal vertical section through the center.

The same letters refer to like parts in each of these figures.

a c is the plow beam or frame, to which the horse or other animal employed to propel it is attached, provided with helves or handles b b, and resembling so far an ordinary drill. The hopper, plow, and main wheel consist of two hollow disks, c c, ofabouteighteen inchesin diameter, six inches broad, (more crless,) with projecting lian ges d d, about one and one-half inch broad, which serve as plows to open the furrow and to conduct the seed into the bottom of the furrow in a straight line. These disks are firmly and permanently secured to and rotate with the shaft e, not close together, but so as to have a space or opening, f, about three-eighths of an inch wide (more or less) between the iianges. Secured to the front part of the beam, in any well -known manner, is a segment-plate, g, which tits the opening or space f between the Hang-es, and it extends down under the beam to about a perpendicular line drawn from the tread and across the axis of the disks, and it also projects above the beam sufficiently high to prevent the seed from escaping and to allow the disks with the shaft to be removed, and also to prevent the dirt from collecting and clogging the opening or space f between the flanges. rllhis plate, filling the space up iiusn with the periphery of the Wheel, makes a smooth bottom to the furrow, so that the seeds will fallin a straight line and in the center and bottom of the furrow. Opposite to this, and on the rear end of the beam, is another segment plate, h, which may be called a tongueor seed-regulator,fitting the openingj'in the same manner asg; butinstead of being secured to the beam it is `jointed thereto at c', andisprovided with an adjustable screw, j, working loosely iu the end of it, but through a thread in the bracket k, so that by turning said screw the tongue can be elevated or depressed at its lower end, l, which has the effect of increasing or diminishing' the aperture or opening through which the seed are discharged, and thus regulating the discharge as desired.

The disks, as before stated, are hollow and contain the seed, which is introduced through a hole, m, which is closed by a suitable cover. As the disks rotate the seed keep to the bottom and fall through the opening or dischargeaperture between the segment-plates. The constant rotary motion of the seed will prevent them from adhering or cakiug, thus producin g a regular and sure discharge.

In the front end of the plow-beam is provided a' series of teeth, n, to harrow the ground previous to laying open the furrow, and secured t0 the after part is a fork or board, o, the discharge of seed is regulated, operating for covering in the furrow over the seed. substantially as in the manner and for the pur- Hzwing thus fully described my invention, pose herein fully set forth.

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Intestimony whereofhav'e hereunto signed Letters Patent, is my name before two subscribing witnesses.

The two hollow disks, 'combining a hopper, GHAS. RANDALL.

plow, and carrying-wheel, substantially as deitnesses:

scribed, in combination with the segment- J. S. SMITH,

plates g and 7L, or their equivalents, by which GEO. R. WEST. 

